Interface-Engineered InAlN/Cu2O Photocathode with Accelerated Charge Separation for Boosting Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
(2024) In Solar RRL- Abstract
Cu2O has emerged as a promising material for sustainable hydrogen production through photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, while inefficient charge separation remains one of the main challenges hindering its development. In this work, a new architecture of InAlN/Cu2O heterojunction photocathode is demonstrated by combining n-type InAlN and p-type Cu2O to improve the charge separation efficiency, thus enhancing PEC water-splitting performance. The Pt/InAlN/Cu2O photoelectrode exhibits a photocurrent density of 2.54 mA cm−2 at 0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (VRHE), which is 3.21 times higher than that of Cu2O (0.79 mA cm−2 at... (More)
Cu2O has emerged as a promising material for sustainable hydrogen production through photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, while inefficient charge separation remains one of the main challenges hindering its development. In this work, a new architecture of InAlN/Cu2O heterojunction photocathode is demonstrated by combining n-type InAlN and p-type Cu2O to improve the charge separation efficiency, thus enhancing PEC water-splitting performance. The Pt/InAlN/Cu2O photoelectrode exhibits a photocurrent density of 2.54 mA cm−2 at 0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (VRHE), which is 3.21 times higher than that of Cu2O (0.79 mA cm−2 at VRHE). The enhanced PEC performance is explained by the larger built-in potential Vbi of 1.43 V formed at the InAlN/Cu2O p–n junction than that in the single Cu2O photocathode (Vbi < 0.77 V), which improves the separation of the photogenerated carriers and thus relieves the bottlenecks of charge-transfer kinetics at the electrode bulk and electrode/electrolyte interface. In this work, an avenue is opened for designing III-nitrides/Cu2O heterojunction toward solar energy conversion.
(Less)
- author
- Zeng, Hui ; Chang, Jui Che ; Qu, Yuanju ; Wang, Weimin LU ; Birch, Jens ; Hsiao, Ching Lien and Sun, Jianwu
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- keywords
- charge transfers, CuO, InAlN, photoelectrochemical water splitting, p–n heterojunction
- in
- Solar RRL
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85189454759
- ISSN
- 2367-198X
- DOI
- 10.1002/solr.202400094
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- bdf96770-1ef4-4e6a-9760-491f6ce7f2c6
- date added to LUP
- 2024-04-23 13:34:57
- date last changed
- 2024-04-23 13:35:24
@article{bdf96770-1ef4-4e6a-9760-491f6ce7f2c6, abstract = {{<p>Cu<sub>2</sub>O has emerged as a promising material for sustainable hydrogen production through photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, while inefficient charge separation remains one of the main challenges hindering its development. In this work, a new architecture of InAlN/Cu<sub>2</sub>O heterojunction photocathode is demonstrated by combining n-type InAlN and p-type Cu<sub>2</sub>O to improve the charge separation efficiency, thus enhancing PEC water-splitting performance. The Pt/InAlN/Cu<sub>2</sub>O photoelectrode exhibits a photocurrent density of 2.54 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> at 0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (V<sub>RHE</sub>), which is 3.21 times higher than that of Cu<sub>2</sub>O (0.79 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> at V<sub>RHE</sub>). The enhanced PEC performance is explained by the larger built-in potential V<sub>bi</sub> of 1.43 V formed at the InAlN/Cu<sub>2</sub>O p–n junction than that in the single Cu<sub>2</sub>O photocathode (V<sub>bi</sub> < 0.77 V), which improves the separation of the photogenerated carriers and thus relieves the bottlenecks of charge-transfer kinetics at the electrode bulk and electrode/electrolyte interface. In this work, an avenue is opened for designing III-nitrides/Cu<sub>2</sub>O heterojunction toward solar energy conversion.</p>}}, author = {{Zeng, Hui and Chang, Jui Che and Qu, Yuanju and Wang, Weimin and Birch, Jens and Hsiao, Ching Lien and Sun, Jianwu}}, issn = {{2367-198X}}, keywords = {{charge transfers; CuO; InAlN; photoelectrochemical water splitting; p–n heterojunction}}, language = {{eng}}, publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}}, series = {{Solar RRL}}, title = {{Interface-Engineered InAlN/Cu<sub>2</sub>O Photocathode with Accelerated Charge Separation for Boosting Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/solr.202400094}}, doi = {{10.1002/solr.202400094}}, year = {{2024}}, }